Towel-holder.



A. SHERBURNE & R. H. VARICLE.

TOWEL HOLDER. APPLICATION mm in. 5. 1917.

1 ,276, 1 25 Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT omuon.

ANN-A SHERZBURNE AND nosnn HENRY VARICLE, or we ANGELES, canrronnm.

TOWEL-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 20, 1918.

Application fi1ed February 5, 1917 Serial No. 146,800.

To all whom itmag concern Be it known that we, ANNA SHERBURNE and ROGER 'H. VARICLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los 'Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Holders; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to household de vices and is directed more particularly to holders adapted for suspending towels or similar articles.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a holder, adapted for attachment to a support, which may be quickly and conveniently manipulated when applying or removing a towel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a towel holder embodying means of novel construction and arrangement for re leasably clamping a towel.

With the above and other objects of simi lar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrange ment of parts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved holder with a'towel in position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-42 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical Longitudinal section through the device, and,

Fig. 4: is a similar section with the parts In position to release the towel.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the improved holder comprises generally speaking an attaching member 5, and relatively movable gripping elements 6 and 7 respectively. Specifically the member 5 comprises a plate which is constructed preferably of metal and has struck outwardly therefrom spaced vertically alined ears 8, the plate being further provided with openings 9 through which suitable attaching means 10 are passed and driven into a support.

The upper of the ears 8 constitutes the support for the gripping element 6, while the lower thereof supports the element 7, said elements being bifurcated at their inner ends as at 11 to receive the ears and being pivotally connected therewith through the medium of pins 12. The elements 6 and 7 are furthermore provided in their opposed faces each with a longitudinal channel 13 communicating with the related furcation 11, andalink 14 having its ends pivoted as at 15 in the forward portions of the channels and serving to connect the elements 6 and 7 for simultaneous movement.

The gripping element 6 presents much, the appearance of a downturned hook, the bill portion of which has its inner face 16 inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the plate 5, the free end of the element 7 being inclined as at 17 to parallel the face 16 and adapted to cooperate therewith in releasgbly cllamping a towel. It will be noted that inc min the cob eratin ri in faces 1% and 17 that portibns of a tovi dl e gaged thereby will be crimped and frictionally clamped against detachment should an un due pull be exerted thereon.

In applying a towel tov the holder, the element 6 is swung upwardly on its pivot by means of a finger piece 18 formed at its free end, and such movement is communicated to the element 7 through the link 14, the pivoting of the elements eccentrically of each other serving to move the element 7 longitudinally of the element 6 so that the inclined faces 16 and 17 will be spaced apart and permit the insertion of a towel therebetween.

When released the elements will be returned by gravity and under the influence of the weight of the towel, to clamp the latter between the faces 16 and 17, the heavier the towel or the greater the downward pull exerted thereon, the firmer the towel will be clamped, this by reason of the inclination of the gripping faces.

To release, the towel a slight upward and outward pull thereon will serve to again swing the elements upwardly and move the faces 16 and 17 out of clamping relation; the towel being thus released and readily removable from the holder. I

What is claimed is:

1. A holder of the character described, comprising a base, an upper hook shaped member pivoted to the base and forming a gripping jaw at its bill end, a lower member pivoted to the base and forming a jaw at its free end to cooperate with the first named jaw, a link connecting the members for differential movement to cause the jaws to move toward and away from each other on shifting-either member, and spring means active upon the lower member to hold the jaws together, the members being formed with inner channels to receive the link and spring.

2. A holder of the character described,

comprising a base, an upper hook shaped member pivoted to the base and formin a gripping jaweat its bill end, a Lower mem er move toward and away, from each other on shifting either member, sprin means active upon the lower member 130- old the jaws together, the members being formed with inner channels to receive the link and spring, and ears on the base and forming the pivotal supports for the members and prdjectedrinto the channels..

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures in the presenceof ltwo witnesses,

ANNA SHERB-URNE,

ROGER HEN-RY VARICLE,

Witnesses: p MATTHEW H mns,

ANNALOPER.

Copies 01 this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioflrhfiitenti. 

